St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-25
A WORKING GIRLS VIEW.
The Reason Why There is Such
An Antipathy Against Serving
As Kitchen and House Maids.

To the Editor of the Globe.
In looking through your columns,
week after week, see this one ques-
ton, "Why do working girls prefer
working in factories, offices, stores, etc.,
than to do housework?" Now, list to
my answer, let all the world hear it, I
speak unafraid what know to be true.
That girl in this nineteenth century,
with pasSable face, a common school
education, with mild disposition. along
with that pride which was given her by
her Maker, made of flesh and blood,
just the same as her royal mistress, does
not care to put her head under
the foot of one of her fellow creatures.
Now, to read the papers you would
naturally comes to the conclusion that
this question was one of the seven Won
ders, to hear the public speak of it. Let
them, if they are so interested, come
with me to the bottom of this great won
der. Let them place themselves, for
instance, in a great city, alone, perhaps,
with no friends and very little money,
but with good health and strength, and
good will to use both. Well, you try
to get situation; and, after being asked
not less than 1000 questions, and COM
PEELED to show good references, you are
permitted to go into siX-by-fOur kitch-
en- to work from o'clock in the morn
ing until 10 at night, for the immense
salary of S12, $40, or perhaps, if the lady
of the house has good share of gall.
she will ask you to stay for IS month:
and,
FOR AN EXCUSE FOR HER FERvE,
will say:
You know you are stranger and it is a
great deal better to stay here for that than to
go and look for another ploce. Besides, this
is the easiest place on this street, and I al
ways pay my help what is coming to them.
The last girl had was here two years and /
gave her 50 cents over. You have two win
dows in your room, and the lady across the
street makes her girl sleep in the attic The
lady next door pays her girl Sc month, and
she is an expert, you see don't know what
you are yet One has got to be so careful of
those strange girls who work.
Well, probably if the poor girl has no
friends and very little money, she will
stay and try, only to become more and
more disguised with Homework. and
finally, after she becomes ACQUAINTED
with few girls who work in factories
or some other place, they will tell her
she can make dollar day, and some
times more. can get her board for So or
perhaps $3.50 week; have every Sun
day and every evening; can sit down
and eat her meals undisturbed, and be
her own boss for the evening. ANYHOW.
Now, if the GLOBE will only condo
scend to put this in print. some of its
KIND readers will start up and say:
Now, something must be done for those
Door girls!" Please keep your pity.
These girls are not to be pitied.
IF THEY JUST STICK TO THIS.
Keep out of the kitchens until you get
pay for going in; The pity of the ladies
when their clothes will last about two
weeks in laundry and they become
tired OF cooking, and sick of eating adul-
turated food out of bakery shops. Then
perhaps they will realize when they get
good girl.
You kind-hearted people, who are
ev organizing societies, under such
names as Y.G. Z. A., ETC., go out beg
ging for the girls, but take good care
that the members of the said societies
get their pay. And what is left-well.
Il e girls never get it. Nor do they
want it. They are not objects of charity.
Give them work and pay them for it.
your kitchens comfortable: treat them
we'll; pay them their wages, and do that
without their begging for it; do not use
them for target to shoot your temper
at; use your husband for that, if YOU
choose; you are married to him, he will
have to stay, but the girls do not. Or
after awhile, it will be necessary to en-
large the GLOBP to get all the wants for
house girls down.
Let them organize societies to help
poor, homeless, aged people, but, for
| goodness sake, let the poor working
| girl alone. Give them plenty of work:
pay them good wages; treat them as
| you would like to be treated yourself:
and you will find that many of the girls
who are now struggling along, will
gladly go to live with you, help to
brighten your homes, and feel than
they have home.
ONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE.
st. Paul, Sept. "a.